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EPIPHONE | CATALOGS | 1964 | PAGE 4, SOLID BODY

Epiphone Crestwood Deluxe, Crestwood Custom, Wilshire, and Coronet

1964 Guitars Basses Amplifiers catalog page 4

Epiphone full line 1964 full line catalog. Page 4, Epiphone solid body guitars. Details of the Crestwood Deluxe and Crestwood Custom, Wilshire and Coronet. These guitars had been redesigned since the previous catalog appearance (see pages 8 and 9 of the 1962 Epiphone catalogue) to feature the new non-symmetrical bodies, batwing-style headstock and new scratchplates with mounted controls.

These instruments were all built at the famous Gibson Kalamazoo plant, side by side with Gibson's early sixties solid bodies such as the SG series and Melody Maker. Like the aforementioned Gibsons, these guitars had a mahogany body and set mahogany neck, with rosewood fingerboard, and shared much of the hardware.

1964 US zone 1 prices for these guitars were as listed in the September '64 price list: Crestwood Deluxe, $480; Crestwood Custom, $370, Wilshire, $265 ($292.50 with vibrola); Coronet, $175 ($202.50 with vibrola).

Epiphone is proud to present solid body instruments that offer the deep rumble, the sharp treble, the biting tone and virility that all guitarists seek from a solid body instrument

1964 Epiphone "Guitars, Basses, Amplifiers" catalog, page 4: Epiphone Crestwood Deluxe, Custom, Wilshire and Coronet
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Epiphone guitars for sale

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Vintage 1960s Epiphone Vibrola Tailpiece GOLD Sheraton Riviera Crestwood 1964

Vintage 1960's Epiphone Vibrola Tailpiece GOLD Sheraton Riviera Crestwood 1964

Chicago, Illinois, 606**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$595

Vintage Correct Parts is proud to offer, for your consideration,
A completely original and fantastic
Vintage Epiphone 1960's Tremolo Vibrola Unit
Correct for your early / mid 60's Epiphone with Gold Hardware
This is a rare tailpiece that was used on some of the very highest end models in the Epiphone line. You'll see these pop up on Sheratons, Crestwood Customs and others
The hinge can fold inward and flat to mount on a solidbody guitar or pop it out to mount it on a semi ... more
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1964 Epiphone Wilshire Rare Custom Color Blue w Hard Case

1964 Epiphone Wilshire Rare Custom Color Blue w Hard Case

New York, 100**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$5999

Vintage original Epiphone 1964 Wilshire in super rare blue finish.
We have taken the guitar apart and it appears the finish is completely original. It is our understanding Epiphone did a rare batch of this model in a orange and some in blue.
Neck is straight and plays great. It has a small, thin profile. Great for someone with smaller hands. It plays with a good action and no buzz or issue. Beautiful Rosewood fretboard. No cracks or breaks. Serial number on back of ... more
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Epiphone 1965 original vintage Coronet Solid Body Electric Guitar -

Epiphone 1965 original vintage Coronet Solid Body Electric Guitar -

Oceanside, New York, 115**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$8999

HERE WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL EPIPHONE CORONET GUITAR FROM 1965 SERIAL NUMBER 322063
COMMONLY KNOWN AS A SILVER FOX
THIS GUITAR IS SO LIGHT MAYBE 5 LBS TOPS
ORIGINAL P 90 PICKUP
PLAYS AND SOUNDS GREAT COMES WITH A CASE
VERY RARE COLOR GREEN BLACK
... more
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1963 Epiphone Coronet Cherry

1963 Epiphone Coronet Cherry

Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$7239

Up for sale is a squeaky clean 1963 Epiphone Coronet in its original cherry finish. I absolutely love this era of Coronets and this one is flat out awesome. Entirely original with a hot original dogear P90, chunky neck profile that measures .88 @ 1st and 1 02 @ 12th. Very clean less some faint play wear and a small area of missing finish on the bass side of the neck near the neck pocket. Pro setup in house and comes complete with a non original hard case. Weight: 6lbs. 10oz.
NOTE ... more
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Epiphone USA Coronet Vintage Cherry with Case

Epiphone USA Coronet Vintage Cherry with Case

Santa Monica, California, 904**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1700

[contenteditable]{ pointer-events: none; }A Legendary Epiphone Original Comes Home to the USA
This Epiphone Coronet is part of the USA Collection. It is made in Nashville, Tennessee, by the same skilled luthiers and craftspeople who build all of the Gibson USA models with the same high-quality materials and design techniques
First introduced in 1958, the Epiphone Coronet is one of Epiphone??s first and most successful original solid body electric guitar designs, and now it has come home ... more
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2024 Epiphone USA Coronet Ebony Finish Electric Guitar w / OHSC

2024 Epiphone USA Coronet Ebony Finish Electric Guitar w / OHSC

San Diego, California, 921**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1699

2024 Epiphone USA Coronet Ebony Finish Electric Guitar w / OHSC
Located At IVG Burbank
New From The Factory On Display In Our Shop
Mahogany Body And Neck With Rosewood Fingerboard
Ebony Finish
Weight 6lbs 8oz
Nut Width 1 7315 "
Neck Depth At 1st Fret .85 "
Neck Depth At 12th Fret .94 "
Comes With Original Hardshell Case
Made In USA
... more
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Vintage 1960s Epiphone Mini PAF pickup ring set - Sheraton, Coronet, Crestwood!

Vintage 1960's Epiphone Mini PAF pickup ring set - Sheraton, Coronet, Crestwood!

Chicago, Illinois, 606**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$195

Vintage Correct Parts is proud to offer, for your consideration,
A completely original and fantastic
Vintage 1960's Epiphone mini - PAF mounting ring set
Very nice original 1960's mounting ring set
Perfect for your Mini Humbucker Equipped Epiphone from that era! All original mounting hardware included as pictured, save the height screws and springs.
Get it back to stock, get it VINTAGE CORRECT
WE SHIP WORLDWIDE
Check our feedback and bid with confidence.
... more
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Vintage! 1964 Epiphone Coronet Electric Guitar Cherry Red + Case

Vintage! 1964 Epiphone Coronet Electric Guitar Cherry Red + Case

Thousand Oaks, California, 913**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3695



Vintage! 1964 Epiphone Coronet Electric Guitar Cherry Red + Case

Google us! Lovies Guitar Shop
Lovies Guitars is excited to offer up this 1964 Epiphone Coronet Electric Guitar with a Cherry Red Finish! The Coronet is the Epiphone equivalent to Gibson's SG Junior, a somewhat unexploited treasure in the Kalamazoo-made fold. These asymmetrical-bodied Epiphone solids were phased at the end of 1963, bearing a distinctly more Fender-like look to the body and headstock replacing the ... more
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1970 Epiphone WILSHIRE Flame Thru Body!

1970 Epiphone WILSHIRE Flame Thru Body!

La Quinta, California, 922**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$996

Purple Haze Music
Description: 1970 Epiphone WILSHIRE Flame Thru Body!
Built in Japan in 1970, the first year of production there, this 54 year-old beauty features a vibrant flame thru body in front and back, a two-piece bolt-on rosewood neck with block fret markers and original electronics. Comes with original hardshell case
Condition: In great condition for a vintage guitar, I had a luthier replace the original bar stop and bridge because they were really corroded. I purchased an ... more
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Vintage 1960s Epiphone Mini PAF pickup ring set - Sheraton, Coronet, Crestwood,

Vintage 1960's Epiphone Mini PAF pickup ring set - Sheraton, Coronet, Crestwood,

Chicago, Illinois, 606**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$125

Vintage Correct Parts is proud to offer, for your consideration,
A completely original and fantastic
Vintage 1960's Epiphone mini - PAF mounting ring set
Very nice original 1960's mounting ring set
Perfect for your Mini Humbucker Equipped Epiphone from that era! All original mounting hardware included as pictured, save the height screws and springs.
Get it back to stock, get it VINTAGE CORRECT
WE SHIP WORLDWIDE
Check our feedback and bid with confidence.
... more
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1962 Epiphone Coronet - Vintage Kalamazoo-made! Cherry

1962 Epiphone Coronet - Vintage Kalamazoo-made! Cherry

Los Angeles, California, 900**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$5000

Legendary Guitar that hasn't caught up in price to its Gibson SG and Les Paul Junior cousins but made in the same factory with the same woods, same electronics, and same builders!


No headstock breaks, heel breaks, and all original electronics, pickup, tuners, and plastics!

Would prefer to sell locally in Los Angeles or even in Northern CA (that's where I'm from, wouldn't mind making the trip). But please, message me to sort out shipping If you ... more
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1961 Epiphone Coronet Cherry

1961 Epiphone Coronet Cherry

Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$7129

Up for sale is a 1961 Epiphone Coronet in its original cherry finish. "The best sounding Les Paul Junior I own is an early 60s Epiphone Coronet" - Frank Gross. The above statement came straight from our owner and it couldn't be more true. These early 60s Coronets are truly special instruments and have the snarl and spank from Les Paul Juniors but with a vibe all their own. Entirely original less the bridge which has been upgraded to a modern wraparound. Pro setup in house and includes its ... more
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Epiphone 1962 Cherry Wilshire Body & Brazilian Neck

Epiphone 1962 Cherry Wilshire Body & Brazilian Neck

Glassboro, New Jersey, 080**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1800

Gibson Dependable
Home of the most First and most Dependable Gibson parts on Ebay
U S.A. and Worldwide Bidders Welcomed
How many of you guitar enthusiast out there have always wanted to build yourselves that awesome project guitar, but didn??t want to spend the money on a full guitar only to dismantle it. Well, here is your opportunity do so. We sell high end name brand parts and project guitars specifically for the purpose of building your own custom one off guitar
Description: ... more
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1965 EPIPHONE WILSHIRE - made in USA

1965 EPIPHONE WILSHIRE - made in USA

COLOGNE, GERMANY

€3332

1965 EPIPHONE WILSHIRE - made in USA :
* finished is stripped, original inverness green still visible in cavities
* small patch of wood on back=check pic 6
* serial number is faint
* no other parts included
* A FEATHER WEIGHT !
++PLENTY of PARTS for SALE ++
ATTENTION! OVER 1000 more
GUITARS-BASSES-AMPS-PARTS
in our OTHER AUCTIONS !!!
CHECK OUR SHOP OUT -------------->>>
... more
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1964 EPIPHONE CRESTWOOD DELUXE TREMOLO USA

1964 EPIPHONE CRESTWOOD DELUXE TREMOLO USA

COLOGNE, GERMANY

€799

* nickel, has wear
* missing arm & socket
PLENTY of PARTS for SALE
ATTENTION! OVER 1000 more
GUITARS-BASSES-AMPS-PARTS
in our OTHER AUCTIONS !!!
CHECK OUR SHOP OUT -------------->>>>>-------------->>>>>
... more
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1965 EPIPHONE WILSHIRE - Made in USA - SUPER LIGHT

1965 EPIPHONE WILSHIRE - Made in USA - SUPER LIGHT

COLOGNE, GERMANY

£2850

1965 EPIPHONE WILSHIRE - made in USA :
* finished is stripped, original inverness green still visible in cavities
* small patch of wood on back=check pic 6
* serial number is faint
* no other parts included
* A FEATHER WEIGHT !
... more
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In Store 1965 Epiphone Crestwood Deluxe Cherry USA Batwing Peg Twin Pickup Fab!

In Store 1965 Epiphone Crestwood Deluxe Cherry USA Batwing Peg Twin Pickup Fab!

Armidale, New South Wales, 2***, AUSTRALIA

AU $7799

* In Store - Epiphone, Crestwood Deluxe, 1965, Cherry, USA, Batwing Peg, Twin Mini Humbuckers
Want to trade? layby? swap? or make an offer?
Please talk with us Black Dot Armidale
Tony Elder / Steve Jackson
Black Dot Music
Est 1985
Fab guitar, super light weight and fun to play! Very original and very cool. Great condition. Non original hard case
Info from Reverb
The final iteration of the original Crestwood Custom arrived in 1963 when Epiphone switched from the ... more
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Vintage Epiphone 1974 MIJ Japan Matsumoko Crestwood ET-270 Kurt Cobain CAN POST

Vintage Epiphone 1974 MIJ Japan Matsumoko Crestwood ET-270 Kurt Cobain CAN POST

Gorokan, New South Wales, 2***, AUSTRALIA

AU $1050

Well used guitar but it still plays well for a 50 year old guitar. All electrics work but the pick up selector switch need replacing. As per photos. More photos available to genuine enquiries. Postage world wide at cost or pick up from Gorokan NSW 2263. Cash on collection is preferred NB: Unless specified, I will unbolt the neck to assist with freight company specs. It will be too long for Auspost if left assembled.... more
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1971 Selmer guitar catalogue

1971 Selmer guitar catalogueScan of 1971 Selmer guitar catalogue showing the range of electric and acoustic guitars distributed by the company: guitars by Gibson, Yamaha, Selmer, Hofner and Suzuki. 1960s Selmer had always placed Hofner at the front end of their catalogues, no doubt these were the better sellers - but into the 1970s Hofner were slipping somewhat and only appear at the tail end of this publication, pride of place going to Gibson, and to a lesser extent Yamaha. In fact this is the last Selmer catalogue to include the many Hofner hollow bodies (Committee, President, Senator etc) that had defined the companies output for so many years - to be replaced in the 1972 catalogue by generic solid body 'copies' of Gibson and Fender models. A number of new Gibson models are included for the first time: the SG-100 and SG-200 six string guitars and the SB-300 and SB-400 basses.

1968 Selmer guitar catalogue

1968 Selmer guitar catalogueScan of 1968/1969 Selmer guitar catalogue (printed July 1968), showing the entire range of electric and acoustic guitars distributed by the company: guitars by Hofner, Gibson, Selmer and Giannini. Selmer were the exclusive United Kingdom distributors of Hofner and Gibson at the time, and this catalogue contains a total of 18 electric guitars, 7 bass guitars, 37 acoustics, and 2 Hawaiian guitars - all produced outside the UK and imported by Selmer, with UK prices included in guineas. This catalogue saw the (re-)introduction of the late sixties Gibson Les Paul Custom and Les Paul Standard (see page 69) and the short-lived Hofner Club 70. Other electric models include: HOFNER ELECTRICS: Committee, Verithin 66, Ambassador, President, Senator, Galaxie, HOFNER BASSES: Violin bass, Verithin bass, Senator bass, Professional bass GIBSON ELECTRICS: Barney Kessel, ES-330TD, ES-335TD, ES-345TD, ES-175D, ES-125CD, SG Standard, SG Junior, SG Special GIBSON BASSES: EB-0, EB-2, EB-3 - plus a LOT of acoustics branded Gibson, Hofner, Selmer and Giannini

1961 Hofner Colorama I

1961 Hofner Colorama IHofner Colorama was the name UK distributor Selmer gave to a series of solid and semi-solid guitars built by Hofner for distribution in the UK. The construction and specifications of the guitars varied over the period of production, but by 1961 it was a totally solid, double cutaway instrument, with a set neck, translucent cherry finish, six-in-a-row headstock, and Hofner Diamond logo pickups. Available as a single or dual pickup guitar, this sngle pickup version would have been sold in mainland Europe as the Hofner 161.

1971 Commodore N25 (Matsumoku)

1971 Commodore N25 (Matsumoku)Commodore was a brand applied to a series of guitars produced in Japan at the well-respected Matsumoku plant from the late 1960s to the mid 1970s - and sold primarily (perhaps exclusively?) in the United Kingdom. The models bearing the Commodore name were all guitars available from different distributors with different branding. Although there may have been some minor changes in appointments (specifically headstock branding) most had the same basic bodies, hardware and construction. Equivalent models to the Commodore N25 (and this is by no means an exhaustive list) include the Aria 5102T, Conrad 5102T(?), Electra 2221, Lyle 5102T, Ventura V-1001, Univox Coily - and most famously the Epiphone 5102T / Epiphone EA-250.

1960 Hofner Colorama II

1960 Hofner Colorama IIThe Hofner Colorama was the name given by Selmer to a series of solid (and semi-solid) body Hofner guitars distributed in the United Kingdom between 1958 and 1965. The Colorama name actually applied to some quite different guitars over the period, but in 1960 it was a very light, semi-solid, set necked guitar with one (Colorama I) or two (Colorama II, as seen here) Toaster pickups. Although an entry-level guitar, it was very well-built, and a fine playing guitar; certainly a step up (at least in terms of craftsmanship) from many of the Colorama guitars that would follow, and a good deal of the guitars available in Britain circa 1960.

1971 Epiphone 1820 bass (ET-280)

1971 Epiphone 1820 (ET-280) bassBy the end of the 1960s, a decision had been made to move Epiphone guitar production from the USA (at the Kalamazoo plant where Gibson guitars were made), to Matsumoto in Japan, creating a line of guitars and basses significantly less expensive than the USA-built models (actually less than half the price). The Matsumoku factory had been producing guitars for export for some time, but the 1820 bass (alongside a number of guitar models and the 5120 electric acoustic bass) were the first Epiphone models to be made there. These new Epiphones were based on existing Matsumoku guitars, sharing body shapes, and hardware, but the Epiphone line was somewhat upgraded, with inlaid logos and a 2x2 peghead configuration. Over the course of the 70s, the Japanese output improved dramatically, and in many ways these early 70s models are a low point for the brand. Having said this, there are a lot worse guitars out there, and as well as being historically important, the 1820 bass can certainly provide the goods when required.

1981 Gibson Marauder

1981 Gibson MarauderProduction of Bill Lawrence's Gibson Marauder began in 1974, with production peaking in 1978. But by 1980 the model was officially discontinued, though very small numbers slipped out as late as spring 1981. Over 7000 examples shipped between 1974 and 1979, and although no totals are available for 1980 and 1981, it is unlikely production reached three figures in either of these years. These final Marauders were all assembled at the Gibson Nashville plant, and had some nice features not available through the later years of production, such as a rosewood fretboard, and in this case, an opaque 'Devil Red' finish. It's a great looking and fine playing guitar!

1971 'Pick Epiphone' Catalog

1971 Pick Epiphone catalogWhen Epiphone production moved from Kalamazoo to the Matsumoku plant in Japan, a whole new range of electric, flattop and classic acoustic guitars was launched. Between late 1970 and 1972 the new models were launched and refined. This 'folder' catalog contains various inserts released over these years detailing four electric six-strings (ET-270, ET-275, ET-278, and thinline EA-250), three bass guitars (ET-280, ET-285, and thinline EA-260), three folk/steel acoustics, four jumbo flattop acoustics, two 12-string jumbos, four classic acoustics, and a banjo.

1981 'Gibson Specials' Pre-Owners Manual

1981 Gibson Specials Pre-Owners Manual'Gibson Specials' was part of the June 1981 pre-owners manual series, but unlike the other folders contained a mish-mash of different guitars: limited editions, test marketing and close outs. "You will find the unusual, the brand-new, and the bargain within this folder". End of line 70s guitars like the Marauder, S-1, and L-6S Custom mixed in with brand new models the The V, The Explorer and the Flying V Bass.
It was the largest folder in the series, with 24 inserts, (19 guitars and 5 basses): Guitars: 335-S Standard, Melody Maker Double, Marauder, L-6S Custom, S-1, RD Artist, Firebird, Firebird II, Flying V, Flying V-II, The V, Explorer, Explorer II, The Explorer, The "SG" Standard, Les Paul Artist, Les Paul Artisan, ES-335 Heritage, ES-175/CC Basses: Grabber, G-3, L-9S, RD Artist Bass, Flying V Bass

1970s Shaftesbury 3263 bass

1970s Shaftesbury 3263 bassRose-Morris were selling Shaftesbury-branded Rickenbacker copy instruments from the late 1960s right through the 1970s. The 3263 bass was one of the first models, (alongside the 3261 six string and 3262 twelve string) available from late 1968 until about 1974. The earliest incarnation was a set neck bass, produced very briefly in Japan. But production quickly moved to Italy. This bolt-on neck example was built by Eko, in Recanati, using the same hardware and pickups as fitted to Eko, and Vox basses built around the same time. It's certainly a fine looking bass, and not a bad player either.

1961 Hohner Zambesi

1961 Hohner ZambesiThis very early, and pretty rare British-built guitar is branded Hohner London. Hohner were, of course, a German company, better known for their harmonicas and accordions, but they were keenly expanding into guitars at the birth of the 1960s. This model, along with the Hohner Amazon and (particularly) the Hohner Holborn, bear some similarity with Vox guitars of the same period; furniture manufacturer Stuart Darkins constructed bodies and necks for both brands, with Fenton Weill assembling them using their hardware and pickups. These guitars do have some hardware peculiarities, and they are not the most adjustable of instruments, but they actually play very nicely, being solidly built out of some very nice woods. Check out the video on this page.

1963 Vox Super Ace

1963 Vox Super AceThe Vox Super Ace was a mid-priced British solid body electric guitar, produced by JMI at their factory in Dartford, Kent. It was broadly modelled on the Fender Stratocaster, and a sibling model to the dual-pickup Vox Ace. Both the Ace, and Super Ace (along with several other models), were redesigned in 1963 with a new body shape, headstock style, and pickup layout - only increasing the resemblance to the aforementioned Fender. The Super Ace had a 1963 price tag of £47 5S. It's a pretty nice playing guitar with some lovely sounds - check out the videos on this page, and in the Vintage Guitar and Bass supporting members area

1966 Vox New Escort

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1969 Fender catalog, Fender Lovin' Care

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1973 Eko Ranger Folk

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1966 Vox Symphonic bass guitar

1966 Vox Symphonic bass guitarThe Symphonic bass was built in the UK, by Vox parent company JMI. It was the Vox equivalent to the Fender Precision bass, and was one of the most expensive Vox guitars produced. It was actually a great playing bass, rather similar to the Precision in feel and sound, but was probably just too expensive compared to an actual Fender and consequently sold poorly. When Vox hit financial problems in 1968, unsold guitars and basses were passed on to Dallas Arbiter, who briefly sold the excess Symphonic bass stock as model 4537. This bass, although with a neck date of February 1966, was most likely one of the unsold Vox guitars sold on by Dallas Arbiter. Check out the bass, and the two video demos through 1960s Ampeg and WEM amplifiers.

1968 Shaftesbury 'Electric Guitars' catalog

1968 Shaftesbury catalogThe 1968 Shaftesbury 'Electric Guitars' catalog was just four pages long, and contained four guitar models: the six string Barney Kessel-style 3264; and three Rickenbacker-styled semi-acoustic models: the six-string 3261, the twelve string 3262 and the 3263 bass. Shaftesbury was the house-brand of major UK distributor Rose-Morris, and seems to have been launched as a response to the company's loss of it's distribution deal with Rickenbacker. The guitars were mid-priced, and built in (initially) Japan, and later Italy, by Eko

1970 Rose-Morris 'Exciting Electrics Wonderful Westerns Celebrated Classics' catalog

1970 Rose_Morris catalog1970 Rose-Morris catalog, dated April 1970. It featured 6 electric guitars, 32 acoustic guitars, 3 basses and 1 steel guitar. It contains the following instruments, over 20 pages: Electric guitars: Shaftesbury 3261, 3262, 3264, 3265, 3400; Top Twenty 1970; Bass: Shaftesbury 3263, 3266; Top Twenty 1971; Acoustic guitars: Eko Rio Bravo, Rio Bravo 12, Ranchero, Ranchero 12, Colorado, Ranger, Ranger Folk, Ranger 12; Aria 1674, 1675, 1676, 1679, 1680, 1695, 'John Pearse' Jumbo, 'John Pearse' Folk; Rose-Morris 15-11, Kansas, Georgian, Florida; Suzuki 1663, 1664, 1665, 3054, 3055, 3060; Tatay 1713, 1714, 1715; Peerless 3052; Steel guitar: Aria 3425

1971 Rose-Morris 'Exciting Electrics Wonderful Westerns' catalog

1971 Rose_Morris catalogThe sixteen-page 1971 Rose-Morris catalog featured electric guitars by Rose-Morris' own brand, Shaftesbury, and budget brand Top Twenty; aswell as acoustics by Eko, Aria, and for the first time Ovation. The catalog contains the following instruments: Electric guitars: Shaftesbury 3261, 3264, 3265, 3400, 3402; Top Twenty 1970; Bass: Shaftesbury 3263, 3266; Top Twenty 1971; Acoustic guitars: Ovation: Balladeer, 12 String, Glen Campbell, Glen Campbell 12 string; Eko Rio Bravo, Rio Bravo 12, Ranger, Ranger Folk, Ranger 12, Colorado, Ranchero, Ranchero 12, Studio 'L'; Rose-Morris Florida; Aria 'John Pearse' Jumbo, 'John Pearse' Folk

1972 Fender Precision bass

1972 Fender PrecisionA detailed look at an early 1970s Fender Precision bass guitar in custom black finish, with rosewood fretboard. 1972 list price, $307.50. The Fender Precision had been shipping since at least very early 1952 - with just one re-design circa 1957. This example, then, shows a model already two decades old, but barely changed since the '57 revamp. Fender got it right first time around, and although there are numerous minor cosmetic differences, the essence of this bass is effectively the same as it was in '52: a simple, single pickup instrument with a GREAT sound. Check out the demo video through an old Ampeg B15. It's no wonder this is the bass that everybody wants!

1967 Vox Stroller

1967 Vox StrollerThe Vox Stroller was the brand's entry level electric solid body guitar, fitted with just one pickup and a fixed tailpiece. Although aimed at student guitarists, it wasn't a terrible instrument, but did lack somewhat in adjustability, having no accessible truss rod and only a floating rosewood bridge. But this example is actually quite an improvement on earlier versions, with a standard 1/4" jack and a solid mahogany body. 1967 price £18 2s. JMI ceased UK guitar production in late '67, and combined with decreasing demand for the Stroller, this surely must be one of the last examples shipped.

1963 Vox Clubman Bass (left handed)

1963 Vox Clubman Bass left handedA nice example of the Vox Clubman II bass, built by JMI in Dartford, Kent in 1963. This is a lightweight bass, short (30") scale and very easy to play. It is an early example, and as such has a thin black scratchplate and side mounted, coaxial output jack. JMI offered left handed examples of their solid body Vox guitars and basses at 10% premium. Production numbers are unclear, but left-handed examples rarely come up for sale

1977 Gibson ES Artist 'prototype'

1977 Gibson ES Artist prototypeNot to be confused with the Gibson ES Artist launched by Gibson in 1979; this ES Artist was an early model designed by the Gibson research and development team in Kalamazoo in 1977, the instruments themselves constructed by Gibson artist Chuck Burge. It was planned for launch as a high end semi acoustic with 335-style construction (central maple block) and innovative circuitry - but was pulled at the last minute, being deemed too expensive. Apparently, several examples were produced with varying specifications, though exactly how many actually left the Kalamazoo plant is unclear. Certainly two guitars were sold to LaVonne Music by Gibson in around 1980. Read more about the development of this guitar, with details from Chuck Burge and the story of it's sale to LaVonne music

1959 Hofner Committee

1959 Hofner CommitteeThe Hofner Committee was a truly beautiful guitar produced in Germany, primarily for the UK market. It was a large bodied (initially 17 1/2") guitar with a carved spruce top, available as an acoustic or electric guitar. By the early sixties the carved top was replaced with a laminate, and although still a very fine guitar, the earlier carved top examples, with frondose headstock (like the example shown here) are far more highly prized amongst musicians and vintage guitar collectors.

1965 Gretsch Chet Atkins Tennessean

1965 Gretsch Chet Atkins TennesseanThe Gretsch Chet Atkins Tennessean, or model 6119 was Gretsch's best selling hollow body of the 1960s. This wonderfully faded example from 1965 was originally Dark Cherry Red, but has turned a mid-orange brown. The original color, however, can be seen underneath the pickup surrounds. 1965 specs: maple body, two-piece neck, Brazilian rosewood fretboard and Hi-Lo 'Tron single coil pickups. Nickel plated Gretsch Bigsby tailpiece.

1965 Gretsch 'For the Spectacular Sound of the Times' guitar and amp catalog

1965 Gretsch catalogThe 1965 Gretsch catalog, or catalog #32, featured 10 hollow body electric guitars, including the newly launched Gretsch Viking; four solid body electrics, including the Astro Jet - making it's only catalog appearance; just one bass, the single pickup PX6070; nine acoustics and 12 tube amplifiers. Pride of place went to the Chet Atkins Country Gentleman that adorned both the front and back covers. 24 pages, six of which are in full color.

Guitar Repair: fixing fret buzz and sharp fret ends

Guitar Repair: fixing fret buzz and sharp fret endsLoose frets are especially problematic in certain old guitars, but are generally very easy to fix. You'll be amazed at the difference you can make with just a few tools, a bit of knowledge, and a little time. Fixing loose frets can eliminate fret buzz, remove sharp fret ends, and greatly improve the tone of any guitar. If your luthier bill will be greater than the value of your guitar, definitely time to have a go yourself!

1966 Hagstrom 'worlds fastest playing neck' catalog (Merson USA)

1966 Hagstrom guitar catalogHagstrom guitars were distributed in the mid-1960s United States by Merson of USA. This eight page 'worlds fastest playing neck' catalog, printed in two-colors contained six solid body electrics, three solid body basses, two electric acoustic guitars, two electric acoustic basses and five acoustics.

1965 Hofner President

1965 Hofner PresidentThe President was produced by Hofner in Bubenreuth, Germany, specifically for Selmer, who distributed the brand in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and other commonwealth nations. The President was a hollow body electric acoustic, available as a full body or thinline, and with blonde or brunette finish. It was a great playing guitar that sold fairly well in the second half of the 1950s, throughout the 1960s, and into the very early 1970s. The example shown here is a full-body depth guitar in blonde - and as a 1965 guitar, one of the last to feature the rounded Venetian cutaway. From late 1965 until 1972, the President sported a sharp Florentine cut. Naturally, such an electric acoustic suggests jazz and blues, but many of the original British Hofner President players were part of the rock 'n roll, skiffle and beat scenes of the late 50s and early 60s.

1963 1964 Fender catalog

Fender 1963 catalogue"The Choice of Professional and Student Musicians Everywhere" This eight page catalogue was included as an insert in the 1963 annual "school music" issue of Downbeat magazine (September 1963). As well as keyboards and pedal steels, this catalog contains seven guitars, three basses and ten amplifiers - from student guitars such as the Musicmaster and Duotone to professional models like the new Jaguar.